KCSS and Café La Mo have partnered up to bring an Open Mic event to the Turlock Community. Open Mic takes place every third Wednesday of the month and it’s a great place for local artists to come and showcase their talents. 

The event has been in production for over a year according to KCSS Promotions Director Mariah Esparza (junior, English).

“The goal of the event is to have a space that encourages and promotes local artists,” Esparza said.  

Café La Mo is a great venue for this event because they provide a spacious outdoor seating area that is both cool and comfortable.  

Typically there are twelve open slots for performers, but on Feb. 24, the list of acts exceeded this number.

The entire outdoor space was full of occupied seats and people standing in the back, eager for the show to begin.  

The first act was an acoustic duo, Zoe and Erin. Their performance started off a little shaky when one of the singers forgot the lyrics mid-song, but the audience was encouraging.

They kept on singing and finished their set with a loud round of applause. This set the laidback vibe of the night.

Open Mic is a place where performers can come and get the experience of performing in front of a live audience without having the pressure of being perfect. 

Though, the event is not limited to singers and musicians, as proven by Richard Yates, a high school senior who recited two deep and intricate poems that he had written himself.

His performance was an audience favorite, and as he walked off the stage he was immediately greeted with positive reactions from the crowd.  

Nobody could tell that this was his first time performing his own poetry at an Open Mic. He revealed that he enjoyed the setting.

 ”It was more intimate and personal than other spaces I’ve been in before,” Yates said.

California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State), students also performed. The show was also a first for Nate Kirk (senior, Communication Studies), who showcased his guitar skills.

He expressed that he liked the “relaxing and chill” environment and was looking forward to participating at the next show.  

Open Mic is open to the public and anyone can participate. There are three more scheduled shows: March 16, April 20 and May 18. Sign-ups start at 6:00 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.

This is a free event, and if you or anybody you know is interested, contact KCSS.